THE family of a woman killed in a car crash on the A540 near Neston, involving footballer David James, have said they will 'miss her terribly'.

Andrew Sivell, son of 69-year-old Sheila Sivell, has described her as 'a people person' and said he was touched by the number of friends and neighbours who had paid their respects.

Said Mr Sivell: "Mum was a giving person who never failed to place the needs of others before her own. She always put a lot into the community she loved."

Mrs Sivell, from Upton, Chester, died on October 12 when the Vauxhall Astra in which she was a front-seat passenger was in collision with a Jaguar XJR driven by former Liverpool goalkeeper Mr James.

An inquest into her death heard that she died from multiple injuries. It was adjourned pending police investigations.

Her husband John is described as 'poorly' in Arrowe Park Hospital, where he was taken suffering from head injuries following the crash.

Andrew Sivell said: "It is a relief to us that our mother apparently suffered no pain. However, our father now has to contend with both the physical and emotional pain of recovery."

Cheshire Police say that Mr James's car was travelling on Parkgate Road towards Hoylake when it was in collision with the Sivells' car at the junction with Mudhouse Lane.

A spokesperson said: "The accident investigation is a long process and will take at least a few weeks."

Mr James, 29, who lives in Burton, was returning from training at his present football club, Aston Villa.

The mother of a Wirral teenager killed on the A540 five years ago has spoken of the need to reduce speeds on the road. Pauline Fielding successfully campaigned for the speed limit on the Raby Park Road to be reduced from 60 to 40mph following the death of her son Andrew, 18, in 1995.

Mrs Fielding said that her thoughts were with the family of the deceased and said: "Things still need to be done to save lives on this road."

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